Pakistan Studies/Affairs MCQs
Topic Notes: Pakistan Studies/Affairs
MCQs and preparation resources for competitive exams, covering important concepts, past papers, and detailed explanations.
Plato
- Biography: Ancient Greek philosopher (427–347 BCE), student of Socrates and teacher of Aristotle, founder of the Academy in Athens.
- Important Ideas:
- Theory of Forms
- Philosopher-King
- Ideal State
11
Which international day was first proposed at a SAARC forum and later adopted by the UN (partially led by Pakistan's advocacy)?
Answer:
International Day to Combat Islamophobia
While primarily an OIC initiative, Pakistan leveraged its diplomatic standing in both SAARC and the OIC to gain UN recognition for the 'International Day to Combat Islamophobia' (March 15). The move aims to address religious intolerance across the region.
12
The SAARC Convention on Preventing and Combating Trafficking in Women and Children for Prostitution was signed in which year?
Answer:
2002
This landmark convention was signed during the 11th SAARC Summit in Kathmandu in 2002. It provides a legal framework for regional cooperation in preventing trafficking and for the rehabilitation of victims, a cause Pakistan has actively supported through domestic legislation.
13
Pakistan’s 2024-2025 economic doctrine of 'Geo-economics' prioritizes SAARC as a platform for:
Answer:
Regional connectivity and transit trade
Pakistan's current foreign policy shift towards Geo-economics aims to utilize SAARC for regional trade connectivity. This includes developing corridors that connect Central Asia to the Arabian Sea, benefiting the landlocked members of the organization.
14
The SAARC Terrorist Offences Monitoring Desk (STMD) is located in which city?
Answer:
Colombo
The STMD is located in Colombo, Sri Lanka. It serves as a repository of information on terrorist incidents, tactics, and groups in the region, facilitating intelligence sharing among the security agencies of member states.
15
The 'South Asian Regional Standards Organization' (SARSO) is headquartered in which city?
Answer:
Dhaka
SARSO is headquartered in Dhaka, Bangladesh. It was established to harmonize standards and quality control measures across member states, which is essential for the smooth implementation of the SAFTA trade agreement.
16
Which SAARC specialized body is located in New Delhi and provides education to South Asian students?
Answer:
South Asian University (SAU)
The South Asian University (SAU) is an international university established by the eight member states. Located in New Delhi, it offers post-graduate and research programs to students from across South Asia, including Pakistan, though visa issues often remain a challenge.
17
The SAARC Satellite (GSAT-9) project, launched by India in 2017, was joined by all members except:
Answer:
Pakistan
Pakistan declined to join the India-led SAARC Satellite project, citing security concerns and its own advanced space program. Instead, Pakistan continues to develop its indigenous satellite capacity, exemplified by the launch of PakSat-MM1 in 2025.
18
The SAARC Chamber of Commerce and Industry (SCCI), which promotes private sector links, has a prominent regional office in which Pakistani city?
Answer:
Islamabad
The headquarters of the SAARC Chamber of Commerce and Industry was inaugurated in Islamabad. It brings together the apex business chambers of all member nations to promote trade liberalization and remove non-tariff barriers.
19
Which Pakistani Prime Minister represented the country at the 18th SAARC Summit in Kathmandu (2014), the last summit attended by all members?
Answer:
Nawaz Sharif
Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif represented Pakistan at the 18th SAARC Summit in Kathmandu in 2014. During this summit, he signed several agreements on energy cooperation and held a high-profile but brief interaction with PM Narendra Modi.
20
The 'Integrated Programme of Action' (IPA) is the main mechanism for technical cooperation in SAARC, covering how many areas originally?
Answer:
Five
The IPA originally identified five core areas for cooperation: Agriculture, Rural Development, Meteorology, Telecommunications, and Health and Population Activities. This has since expanded to include dozens of technical committees.